What is Nitrous Oxide?
Nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) is an inhaled substance, administered through nasal prongs.
It is commonly used in obstetrics (to relieve painful contractions during labour), and as the main component for pain relief during general anesthesia.
It has been used for many decades and has been proven to be very safe. It has excellent anti-anxiety properties and provides very effective pain relief during surgical procedures.
Dr. Crouse, who has an anesthesia diploma, has had years of experience and confidence with its administration and use.
The nitrous oxide only takes a minute to relax you and the effects are completely gone shortly after the procedure.
Nitrous oxide is available upon request and is part of our efforts to enhance your comfort and deliver the smoothest vasectomy and circumcision experience possible.
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Nitrous Oxide Sedation FAQs
It is important that a patient make an informed choice about nitrous oxide sedation.
Keeping that in mind, we have assembled a short list of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) by our patients before opting for nitrous oxide sedation during their procedure.
1. How is nitrous oxide sedation performed?
To administer the gas, a tiny nasal canula is simply and comfortably placed in the patient’s nostrils. The tube is then attached to a handheld device that regulates the flow of the nitrous oxide gas.
You are expected to breathe normally during the entire process, inhaling the gas from the attached equipment. After a minute, the nitrous oxide starts taking effect.
Toward the end of the procedure, the “laughing gas” will steadily wear off. By the time you are done with the surgery, you will feel completely fine, and are in a position to walk-out unassisted.
2. What are the effects?
The effects of nitrous oxide vary from patient to patient. Some of the most common and notable effects are listed below:
- A tingling sensation in your hands and legs
- You’ll feel warm
- There is a feeling of numbness in your tongue, hands, feet, and mouth.
- Your hearing may become distant, but it will also be distinct.
- You might feel some excitement and pleasure.
It is not the purpose of nitrous oxide sedation technique to put a patient to sleep during the procedure. Therefore, you will remain conscious during the entire procedure. You may feel a bit sleepy while under sedation.
3. What are the benefits of using nitrous oxide gas?
Use of nitrous oxide sedation has many advantages. Some of them are mentioned below:
- It doesn’t put you to sleep. You remain conscious throughout treatment.
- It gives you a comfortable and anxiety-free experience during the surgery.
- The level of sedation can be modified with ease by varying the concentrations of nitrous oxide.
Apart from these advantages, the most obvious benefit of nitrous oxide sedation is that it eliminates the need for other forms of sedation that may be longer lasting or carry unwanted side-effects.
4. Are there any risks?
The use of nitrous oxide is considered to be the safest choice. However, some asthma patients, as well as those suffering from severe bronchitis, may not be comfortable inhaling the laughing gas.
Although there are no long-term side-effects associated with it, in some cases, the patients might feel nauseous or sleepy during the procedure. If you happen to notice such symptoms, it is advisable that you inform your doctor about it.
5. How much does it cost?
There is no additional charge for vasectomy patients who have chosen the premium package, and there is no additional cost for teens and adult men undergoing a circumcision procedure.
Our intention at Intramed is to make your operative experience as pleasant and painless as possible.